POHJOLA BANK PLC PRESS RELEASE
5 January 2015 at 11 a.m.
Professor Martti Uusitupa receives Pohjola and Suomi Mutual Medical Award
Lifestyle is a more critical factor than genome in the prevention of many chronic diseases, such as adult-onset diabetes. A healthy, balanced diet helps achieve long-term health benefits. "Recent studies have particularly highlighted the importance of vegetables, berries, fruit and whole grain for health," Professor Uusitupa remarks.
Matti Uusitupa will receive the 2015 Pohjola and Suomi Mutual Medical Award worth 20,000 euros for his long-term and distinguished life's work for the promotion of the health of the Finnish population. The award is a recognition of a person's significant national and international life's work. The recipient is chosen by the chairmen of the major Finnish physicians' organisations.
Uusitupa has led many nationally and internationally acclaimed Nordic and Finnish top research projects. One of the internationally most cited Finnish biomedical studies is the long-term adult-onset diabetes prevention study DPS, which was the world's first controlled study of its type. The study led to the establishment of the adult-onset, i.e. type 2, diabetes prevention programme D2D in Finland. The D2D project has shown that type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases can be prevented in primary health care, if this is invested in.
"The D2D research programme has attracted a great deal of international attention. Finland has been looked to as a model, as we have been able to translate the latest scientific evidence into clinical care practices," says Uusitupa.
Adult-onset diabetes has been successfully prevented by life-style changes, such as an improved diet, increased physical activity and moderate weight reduction, even despite genetic risk factors. According to Uusitupa, the prevalence of coronary artery disease has also been curbed in Finland through long-term changes in Finns' diets.
Eating a balanced diet in moderation is key
The key to a healthy lifestyle is to eat a varied diet in moderation, favouring vegetables, berries, fruit and whole grain products. If you eat more than you burn, you will gain weight, regardless of the source of the calories. Excessive consumption of sugary beverages increases obesity among children and young people, in particular, and can easily lead to an unbalanced diet.
Good quality polyunsaturated fats, combined with a basically healthy diet, can promote cardiovascular health and insulin metabolism, as well as reduce low-grade inflammation of the body and arteriosclerosis.
"A healthy lifestyle can help prevent diseases even if an individual has a predisposing genome. Others may have a protective genetic mutation. The genome of these people does not enhance the adverse effects of their diet, so they can get away with an unhealthier diet," notes Uusitupa.
The effect of food on gene function is being studied
Nutritional matters divide opinion, but opinions are not the same as scientific evidence. "In addition, science is self-correcting, as a researcher's job is always to question, leading to more accurate knowledge," Uusitupa emphasises.
After qualifying as a physician in 1972, Matti Uusitupa became involved in scientific research, initially specialising in internal medicine and completing his doctoral thesis on the heart diseases of diabetics. He has conducted his scientific career alongside demanding administrative work. He acted as Rector of the University of Kuopio for almost ten years, and played a major role in merging the universities of Kuopio and Joensuu into the University of Eastern Finland. Before retiring at the beginning of 2014, he held a professorship in nutritional genomics and genetics at the University of Eastern Finland.
Uusitupa has held various expert roles and positions of trust in the Finnish Heart Association and the Finnish Diabetes Association for thirty years, and is the chairman of the board of the Finnish Heart Association. His genuine interest in scientific research and the discovery of new things has helped him to maintain his research career.
Uusitupa has his eyes on the future. There are still major open questions regarding the combined effect of genes and nutrition, and the effect of nutrition on gene function, for example. With the aid of systems biology, for example, data from treatment studies can be combined using mathematical models, thus increasing an overall understanding of cellular mechanisms of action. By solving these questions, it will be possible to prevent and cure chronic diseases in a more customised manner.
The Pohjola and Suomi Mutual Medical Award has been presented annually at the Finnish Medical Convention since 1981. The committee that chose the winner consisted of the chairmen of the boards of the Finnish Medical Association, Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, Finska Läkaresällskapet and the Finnish Medical Foundation. The award will be presented at the Finnish Medical Convention on 8 January 2015. Professor Matti Uusitupa will hold a speech titled "Highlights of Finnish nutritional research " as he receives the award.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Matti Uusitupa, tel. +358 400 615661; matti.uusitupa@uef.fi
Chief Physician Markus Torkki, Omasairaala Oy; +358 10 2578051; markus.torkki@pohjola.fi
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Source: Pohjola Pankki Oyj via Globenewswire
